The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The Stark Museum of Art and The W.H. Stark House, located in Orange, invite families and visitors of all ages to take part in Adventure Family Day on Saturday, July 20, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

This Family Day is free to the public, although a ticket is required to attend.

Tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event or may be obtained from the Museum's website at www.starkmuseum.org or The House's website at www.whstarkhouse.org.

Online ticket forms are scheduled to be posted for the public on or before July 10.

Visitors are encouraged to obtain tickets in advance by using the online ticket forms linked to each venue's website. Online forms will provide tickets to one or both of the family day activities taking place at the museum and the house; a separate ticket is required for each location. Downloading tickets in advance will facilitate admission on the day of the events.

Families visiting the Museum will take the helm during Adventure Family Day and explore how travelers of the past found their way around the world. Guests will have the opportunity to make sailboats, telescopes, and globes, as well as create their own message-in-a-bottle art. For young visitors, there will be storytelling, and families are invited to go on a scavenger hunt for prizes. Complimentary light refreshments will be available.

While attending Adventure Family Day at the museum, visitors of all ages will have a special opportunity to learn how explorers used astronomy to guide their travels by visiting the STARLAB planetarium, presented by Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. Explore the night sky in the inflatable planetarium, and then learn about different stars and constellations that are still used for navigation today. Guided tours of the star lab will be offered from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and will take place every half hour.

Family Day continues at The W.H. Stark House. Guests will have the opportunity to listen to Jim LeMarche's The Raft, read by House Guides, and will also have the chance to create their own raft inspired by the story. Learn about the collections, travels and adventures of the Lutcher and Stark families and create your own W.H. Stark House passport to collect special Family Day stamps during a complimentary First-Floor tour. While complimentary tours will be available to visitors of all ages, visitors under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Family Day attendees will also have the opportunity to visit the new special exhibition, Tales and Travels, which is presented by the Arts and History Programs and Collections of the STARK Cultural Venues. The exhibition will be on display at the Museum from July 13, through January 11, 2014, and it is presented in conjunction with a coordinating exhibition at The W.H. Stark House during the same period.

From island adventures to giant anthills, this exhibition has a story for everyone. Tales and Travels features first-edition books of long-loved tales as well as real travels from amazing adventurers, along with paintings, prints and drawings. Docents will give brief exhibition tours from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Tours will be offered every half hour. Additionally, Education Intern Hannah Fuller will present an interactive spotlight especially for families at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Jennifer Restauri, Educator for Studio and Family Programs of the Stark Museum of Art, welcomes all visitors, saying, "Summer is the perfect time to go on an adventure. Families will enjoy a fun, friendly atmosphere while exploring the Museum and House. With such a wide range of activities planned, there will be something for every age!" Restauri reminds families that all ages are welcome, but children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Photo: Children enjoy family-friendly fun and activities during a previous Adventure Family Day at the Stark Museum of Art and The W.H. Stark House.